Laura Gillen

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the legacy of Detective Luis Alvarez and the advancement of a bill to rename his hometown post office in Oceanside in his honor.

Detective Alvarez was a true American hero and bravely answered the call on 9/11 after the worst terror attack on American soil. He spent months searching for survivors among the toxic rubble at Ground Zero and, as a result of his exposure, received a cancer diagnosis in 2016.

He continued his legacy of service and became a leading advocate for 9/11 first responders, famously appearing before Congress in 2019 to fight for the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund.

Detective Alvarez represents the best of us, and we must ensure that his heroism and sacrifice are never forgotten.

I am proud to say that my bill to rename the Oceanside Post Office is supported by the Alvarez family and the entire New York House delegation.

I am urging the Speaker to act quickly and bring the legislation to the floor to honor Detective Alvarez ahead of the 9/11 25th anniversary.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Long Island Association. For a century, it has been an institution at the heart of Long Island's economy and business community.

I thank Chairman Waldman, Acting President Sikes, and the association's board members who traveled to Washington this week. It is a privilege to reaffirm our shared commitment to prosperity and opportunity for every Long Islander.

Long Island's businesses and industries contribute more than $200 billion to our Nation's economy each year. We are an economic powerhouse, driving innovation and discoveries in national security, medicine, and next-generation technologies.

Giving Long Island's businesses a strong base with no limits on their success is how we bolster our local economy and our way of life.

Core to its mission, the Long Island Association has been a crucial bridge between businesses and local and Federal government leaders. That partnership is foundational to the success of every entrepreneur, industry, and family-owned business that built Long Island.

Our work here in Washington is first and foremost to deliver for our communities through bipartisanship and common sense. Doing so through pro-business and pro-worker policies gives our region the room to grow and stay competitive.

The Long Island Association partnership has been instrumental in helping meet the challenges that we face. We must make Long Island more affordable to keep attracting world-class talent and give companies the chance to invest in themselves.

That starts with lowering the high cost and taxes our families and businesses pay, including fully and permanently eliminating the SALT cap and undoing harmful tariffs. It means making housing more affordable and ensuring every young professional and hardworking family has a place to call home.

We must meet our energy needs with an all-of-the-above strategy and guarantee our infrastructure can support a growing economy. We must cut Federal red tape and invest in our industries to fuel greater opportunity across our region.

I am proud to have worked with the association and with my Long Island colleagues across the aisle to tackle these challenges head on. I remain committed to being a trusted voice in Washington for Long Island's businesses and workers.

As we celebrate the Long Island Association's 100 years of excellence, I look forward to our continued partnership. Congratulations on this historic milestone and the beginning of another remarkable century of service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the outstanding career of Dean Lodge, a dedicated UPS driver who has recently retired after more than 37 years with UPS, including 26 years in the Long Beach community.

After growing up in Jamaica, Mr. Lodge moved to New York with his family in 1988, starting with UPS in 1989 in Manhattan. He eventually transferred to Long Beach in 2000, where he became far more than a delivery driver. He became a trusted neighbor and friend.

Known for his kindness, reliability, and personal connection, Dean built lasting relationships with the families and businesses he served. He proudly knew his customers by name, looked out for their safety, and brought a sense of care to his work each and every day, and brought consistency to Long Beach. He gave back. He mentored his fellow drivers, earning a deep respect from his colleagues.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Dean for his decades of service and the joy he brought to Long Beach. I wish him all the best in his retirement and hope he enjoys the races at Belmont Park for years to come.